Wattles, genus Acacia - Australian Plant Information Wattle Day interview with Joe Miller on his 'Tree of Trees' Acacia phylogeny in 2009 [MP4 file, 10,000 KB] Introduction The genus Acacia belongs to the family Mimosaceae. There are some 1350 species of Acacia found throughout the world and close to 1000 of these are to be found in Australia. Commonly known as Wattle, Acacia is the largest genus of vascular plants in Australia. Australia's national floral emblem is Acacia pycnantha , the Golden Wattle. Wattle Day is celebrated on the 1st of September each year. Distribution Within Australia Acacia occupies vast areas of the continent and is to be found in a wide range of differing habitats from coastal to sub-alpine regions and from high rainfall to arid inland areas. They are particularly prevalent in the arid and semi-arid and the dry sub-tropical regions of the country. Acacia is to be found in Australia, Africa, Madagascar, throughout the Asia - Pacific region and in the Americas.

Flowers Individual flowers are arranged in inflorescences that may be either globular heads or cylindrical spikes. Each inflorescence may comprise from as few as 3 individual flowers (e.g. Acacia lunata) to as many as 130 or more (e.g. Acacia anceps). Acacia species flower throughout the year although the bulk of species flower during spring and summer and a lesser number flower during autumn and winter. Globular inflorescences Foliage Some of the diversity of foliage in Acacia Acacia show a range of foliage types. The true leaves are divided into leaflets, but a large group of wattles develop modified flat leaf-like structures called phyllodes (which are simply flattened stems) soon after germination. The foliage colour of Acacia ranges from light or dark green to blue or silver-grey. Stages of foliage development from true leaves to phyllodes A few species lack true leaves or phyllodes altogether and in these plants cladodes (which are simply modified stems) function as the leaves. Cladodes are illustrated at left in this Acacia glaucoptera. Acacia as Garden Plants Acacia make excellent garden plants.

They range in habit from prostrate and low-growing species to larger shrubs and shade trees. Most respond to pruning immediately after flowering and, if carried out regularly, pruning can extend the life of the plant. As Acacia species flower throughout the year it is possible, with careful selection, to have Acacia flowering in the garden at all times of the year. Acacia are a good source of pollen making some species popular with bee-keepers. The seeds are also an important source of food for birds. The main pests are stem borers which can be controlled by probing with flexible wire or by injecting a few millilitres of alcohol into the holes. Galls are often more difficult to control, but removing the effected branches can reduce the problem. Acacia Bug (Eucerocoris tumidiceps) can cause damage to the foliage of wattles with phyllodes and is difficult to control. Treatment with a systemic insecticide may be required. Propagation Propagation from seed is the most common method. Seeds are readily available and can be stored for many years. The very hard seed coat needs to be scarified (worn away) or softened before water can enter and germination can take place.

Pouring boiling water over the seeds and leaving them to soak for 24 hours will usually soften them. The infertile seeds will float to the surface and should be discarded. Swollen seeds can be sown, the others can be retreated. Many species of Acacia can be grown from cuttings using firm new seasons growth. Cuttings from species with phyllodes are easier to strike than those with bipinnate leaves. More information on the propagation of Acacia can be found on our ' Growing Native Plants ' site. Acacia and People All parts of various Acacia species have been or are used by people for one purpose or another. The seeds from some specific Acacia species provide a valuable food source. Mostly the seeds are ground into a flour and cooked like damper although some are eaten raw or made into a porridge. The gum from some species is also edible. Various extracts from the bark and the leaves or phyllodes have been and continue to be used by Australian Aborigines for a wide variety of medicinal purposes such as relieving toothache or colds or applying to wounds and burns. Green leafy branches of some species may be used to 'smoke' someone who is suffering from a general sickness.

The wood of various species has been used to make clubs, spears, boomerangs and shields. Some species, such as Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood), are used to make fine furniture. Tannin has been extracted from the bark of a number of species for use in tanning including Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle), A. mearnsii (Black Wattle) and A. pycnantha (Golden Wattle). A boomerang made Commonly Grown Acacia - Australian Plant Information Commonly Grown Acacia Text derived from the Acacia sections of the 4th edition of Australian Native Plants by John Wrigley and Murray Fagg , published in 1996 by Reed Books Pty Ltd. The photograph link for each entry searches the Australian Plant Image Index (APII) to find all the currently available digitized photos. These represent a wide range of photos of varying quality in our collection. Individual entries for each species, with a selected photo, can be seen and printed from here . Acacia acinacea (Previously known as: Acacia rotundifolia ) Gold Dust Wattle Description: Straggling shrub to 2 m high and 1.5 m diameter.

Phyllodes are variable, usually less than 2 cm long; narrow to orbicular. Flowers like golden balls appear in spring. Distribution: SA, Vic., NSW. Propagation: From scarified seed or boiling water treatment. Cultivation: Generally adaptable in cultivation, responds to sunny, reasonably well drained positions in most soils. Will respond to light pruning after flowering. Special horticultural attributes: Frost hardy (will tolerate frosts to -7 C ) Acacia adunca Description: Shapely, large shrub to 6 m with 2 m spread. Long narrow phyllodes to 15 cm tend to droop. Very floriferous, golden ball flowers in late winter and early spring. Distribution: Qld., NSW. Propagation: From scarified seed or boiling water treatment. Cultivation: Generally adaptable in cultivation, responds to sunny, reasonably well drained positions in most soils. An outstanding species which may be used as a feature plant in a sunny situation. Special horticultural attributes: Frost hardy (will tolerate frosts to -7 C ) Recommended for its foliage. May be used as a feature plant.

Acacia alata Photographs Description: Most unusual shrub to 2 m high by 1 m across. Phyllodes are almost reduced to cladodes, giving the appearance of winged stems. Each phyllode is extended into a spine. Two flower forms are noted, one cream, the other golden yellow. Extended flowering period. Distribution: WA. Propagation: From scarified seed or boiling water treatment. Cultivation: Some shade and good drainage is appreciated. The golden flowered form is preferred. Special horticultural attributes: Frost hardy (will tolerate frosts to -7 C ) Recommended for its foliage. Photographs Description: Small tree or large shrub to 7 m high by 7 macross, often multi-stemmed. Phyllodes are narrow to broad linear, greyish, to 7 cm. Flowers are rod-like, yellow, and occur in spring or other times, depending on rain. The timber of this species is used extensively for the mulga-wood ornaments sold as Australiana souvenirs throughout the country. Distribution: arid areas of Qld, NSW, SA, WA and NT. Propagation: From scarified seed or boiling water treatment.

Cultivation: A hardy plant for drier areas. It has attractive foliage. Full sun and good drainage essential. Special horticultural attributes: Frost hardy (will tolerate frosts to -7 C ) Recommended for its foliage. Photographs Description: Small tree or large shrub to 10 m high by 6 m across. Leaves are grey, bipinnate and leaflets are linear. Profuse, gold, ball-shaped flowers occur in late winter. Pods are bluish when young. Two other foliage forms are in cultivation. One has purplish leaves and has been known as Acacia baileyana var. purpurea, the other has yellowish tips. Distribution: NSW, but naturalized in other areas. Propagation: From scarified seed or boiling water treatment, or cuttings of fancy foliage types. Cultivation: A very hardy plant in a sunny situation. Suited to most soils. Flowers sporadically in Brisbane but profusely in southern areas. Good fast-growing screen plant. Purple foliage form is useful foliage contrast. Special horticultural attributes: Frost hardy (will tolerate frosts to -7 C ) Recommended for its foliage. Suitable hedge or screen plant.

Acacia bancroftii Photographs Description: A small tree which may reach 10 m high, but generally smaller. The phyllodes are obliquely obovate with the lower margin more or less straight. They are up to 16 cm long. The rod shaped flowers are bright yellow and borne in pairs in the upper leaf axils. They are seen from late winter to early spring. Distribution: southeast Queensland to northern New South Wales. Propagation: From scarified seed or boiling water treatment. Cultivation: A hardy and fast-growing tree for coastal districts. May be used as a screen or shelter for younger plants. Most soils are satisfactory and full sun is recommended. Special horticultural attributes: Description: Straggly, many-branched shrub to 3 m high. Spiny stems with bipinnate leaves to 5 cm long. Golden ball-flowers are strongly perfumed. Distribution: Tropics of the world. Propagation: From scarified seed or boiling water treatment. Cultivation: Believed to have been introduced to Australia before European settlement (usually regarded as the cut-off for native vs exotic), from Central America (where it is native) via the Philippines.

Also found in subtropical and tropical America, Africa and Asia, often being naturalised. The species is widely grown in southern France for the perfume industry. Hardy in dry conditions. Warning - this plant is fast becoming a major pest weed in the dryer parts of Australia . Special horticultural attributes: Hedge or screen plant. Photographs Description: Spreading shrub to 3 m by 4 m with large, obovate, very glaucous phyllodes. Bears yellow rod-shaped flowers. Masses of twisted pods are a feature of the plant even after the seed has fallen. Children of the Mt Isa area are reported to refer to the twisted pods as 'soap', as they are sticky and tend to remove dirt from the skin when crushed in the hands. Distribution: Qld., NT, WA (northern areas). Propagation: From scarified seed or boiling water treatment. Cultivation: Generally adaptable in cultivation, responds to sunny, reasonably well drained positions in most soils. Spectacular foliage plant for mild areas. Prune regularly to maintain rounded shape. Grows very quickly.

Special horticultural attributes: Golden Wreath Wattle, Orange Wattle (Previously known as: Acacia cyanophylla ) Description: Large shrub or small tree to 10 m, sometimes developing a spreading crown. Phyllodes to 20 cm long and up to 2 cm wide, occasionally bluish. Flowers are large golden balls in spring. Distribution: WA (naturalized in other States). Propagation: From scarified seed or boiling water treatment. Cultivation: Generally adaptable in cultivation, responds to sunny, reasonably well drained positions in most soils. Useful as a tall background plant. Very fast growing, hardy, and resistant to salt spray. Has become a weed in north-eastern NSW and South Africa. Special horticultural attributes: Australian flora | australia.gov.au Australian flora National parks Australian flora One of Australia's greatest treasures is her flora – a staggering 24,000 species of native plants have been identified compared to England's 1700 native plants. An Aboriginal garden Australia's native plants vary across the many different natural environments of the country.

In the tropical regions of north Queensland, Arnhem Land and the Kimberleys there are many native fruit trees, such as figs and green plums. Where water is scarce in central Australia, the plants are spread thinly over the land and Aborigines rely on fruits such as bush tomatoes and quandong or native peach. While fruits are seasonal, roots can usually be dug up all the year round. This regular digging-over of the soil meant that the whole country was, in a way, an Aboriginal garden. Plants were used for many other things besides food. Medicines also came from plants. Native mints (Mentha spp.) were remedies for coughs and colds, and the gum from gum-trees, which is rich in tannin, was used for burns. Botanical interest and ignorance Sydney Parkinson (1759-68), Banksia. Image courtesy of National History Museum, London. William Dampier first introduced Europeans to Australian plants in 1703 in his book A voyage to New Holland which presented illustrations of specimens from the Western Australian bush.

On Captain Cook's journey Endeavour voyage in 1770, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander collected over 30,000 botanical specimens and Sydney Parkinson made 674 drawings on the voyage. This material was not published for another hundred years. On the other hand, French naturalists and scientists, such as Labillardiere, extensively promoted Australian plants with the publication of seven volumes. Napoleon's wife Josephine patronised botanists and the growing of Australian plants – growing over 100 Australian plants including grevilleas, banksias, eucalypts and casuarinas at Malmaison, outside Paris. The clearing of Australian native plants during the last 200 years has markedly changed the Australian countryside. Robin Boyd in his book, The Australian Ugliness (1960) wrote that many people regarded even eucalypts and acacias as 'primitive landscape and elements – unfamiliar, strangely primeval – which must be eradicated from the home environment'. Since the 1990s, Landcare programs and Greening Australia have begun to conserve flora and combat problems, such as soil erosion and salination, which have occurred as a result of large scale clearing.

Common species Acacia Golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha), the floral emblem of Australia. Image courtesy of the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Acacia is a genus of around 1200 species; 954 are currently recognised as occurring in Australia – from coastal zones and mountains to the dry inland. Collectively the Australian species are known as 'wattles'. One of them, golden wattle, Acacia pycnantha, was first collected by the Surveyor-General of New South Wales, Thomas Mitchell, in 1836. As Australians became more patriotic towards the end of the 1800s, they began to appreciate Australian native plants more, and started a search for a floral symbol of the country. In 1912, the wattle was incorporated into the design of the Australian Coat of Arms. In Spring, beginning in September in Australia, the golden wattle comes into flower with large fluffy, yellow, sweet smelling flower heads. Each flower head is a bunch of many tiny flowers. Eucalyptus Mountain ash (eucalyptus regnans) - the second tallest tree in the world. Image courtesy of the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

Gum trees (eucalypts) are a vital part of the Australian natural environment. The only major environment where eucalypts are absent is rainforest. There are about 12 species which occur naturally outside of Australia but around 700 are native to Australia. Eucalypts serve as shelter for many species of native Australian animals and birds. A few varieties of gum leaves are the only food eaten by koalas. Since early settlement, eucalypts have been a vital source of timber and firewood for Australians and they have been a key part of the hardwood timber industry. Soldiers returning by ship from the First and Second World Wars were able to smell the aroma of the eucalypt before land was visible on the horizon. A common use for eucalypts is eucalyptus oil. Grevillea The genus Grevillea is probably the most popular and widely cultivated of all of Australia's plant families. The plants occur in numerous shapes and sizes and the colourful flowers, in many cases, attract birds.

Grevillea is a member of the Protea family (Proteaceae) and its close relatives include Banksia, Hakea, Dryandra, Isopogon and Telopea (the waratah). Melaleuca Melaleuca is a genus of around 170 species in the Myrtle family (Myrtaceae). Melaleucas are commonly known as 'paperbarks' in the tree forms and 'honey myrtles' in the smaller form as well as 'tea trees' . Melaleucas are often found along watercourses or along the edges of swamps. M. alternifolia is commonly used in the production of tea tree oil , an ingredient in many shampoos, antiseptic creams and soaps. Eremophila Eremophila is a genus of 214 species which are commonly called 'emu bushes' found only in Australia. They are generally plants of semi-arid to arid regions The plants produce fleshy fruits which are often eaten by birds and animals. The foliage of some species is toxic and stock poisonings have occurred although some other species are useful as fodder plants.

A common use of emu bush is 'emu oil' – as a skin tonic . Emu bush was important to the Adnyamathanha people of the northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Rosemary Pedler (1994) noted it's use for medicinal purposes. The bark of trunks was scraped off, reduced to ash and then mixed with emu oil. This preparation was then used for all manner of skin complaints with excellent results, according to several people in the group. This is still being used today. Haemodoraceae Kangaroo paws are from the Haemodoraceae family, a family of herb like plants related to the lilies (Amaryllidaceae), comprising over 100 species. In general, the plants are small, clumping plants with strappy leaves reaching about one metre wide and high. Flowers have little or no fragrance. Kangaroo paw flowers are long, narrow and tubular-shaped, resembling the paw of a kangaroo, which are ideally designed for low-beaked birds. Australian floral emblems Vase Decoration, by Mr L. H. Howie, a student at the School of Art and Crafts, Adelaide, SA. R.T.

Baker (1915) The Australian Flora in Applied Art, Part 1, The Waratah, Sydney. Image courtesy of the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Inspiration from Australian flowers has characterised the development of unique motifs in the visual arts in Australia. In 1915, R T Baker, a passionate advocate of the Waratah and other local flora as a motif in art, craft and industry wrote: The entire plant (waratah) lends itself to such a boldness of artistic ideas in all branches of Applied Art that it has few compeers amongst the representatives of the whole floral world... Artists like Margaret Preston used the bold shape of the Waratah in her hand-coloured woodcut prints and this contributed to recognition of native flowers and plants as being part of Australia's cultural identity. Useful links Australia National Flower - Facts About Golden Wattle Buy From OurStores Australia National Flower Did you know? Golden Wattle are the most fragrant flowers and are used in making perfumes, bath herbs, and potpourris. Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is Australia's national flower.

The Golden Wattle blooms in spring, - beginning September - in Australia, with large fluffy, yellow, sweet smelling flower heads. Each Golden Wattle flower head is a bunch of many tiny flowers. Acacias are popularly called Wattle. Kingdom Genus Acacia The tiny Golden Wattle flowers have five very small petals, almost hidden by the long stamens, and are arranged in dense rounded or elongated clusters. The Golden Wattle flowers are yellow in most species, whitish in some, and are widely cultivated as ornamentals. Autralia's Acacias vary in size but have a distinctive yellow colouring. Most of the species flower during the end of winter or the beginning of spring. The most common Acacia, the Golden Wattle (Arcacias pycnantha) is found in the South Eastern parts of Australia, and the hotter and drier climates. The Golden Wattle tree, is a shrub of about 4-8 metres. The shrubs and trees genus, Acacia comes from the Pea Family (Fabaceae) and is originally Gondwanian. About 1300 species of Acacia abound worldwide, with about 950 of them being native to Australia.

The Golden Wattle features prominently on the Australian coat of arms. Australia celebrates Wattle Day on September 1. from our stores - Pickupflowers - the flower expert Facts About Golden Wattle Since the Golden Wattle is native to Australia's Capital territory, the flower was the obvious choice for the floral emblem. Australian Acacia pycnantha species are called Golden Wattles, while the African and American species tend are generally called Acacias. Golden Wattle are sometimes used as food by the larvae of hepialid moths of the genus Aenetus. Even several years old Golden Wattle seeds germinate, provided the outer covering of the seed is sufficiently abraded for water to penetrate. The largest Golden wattle is the Blackwood Wattle (Arcacias melanoxylon), which is found within the eastern and southern parts of Australia. In Australia, Acacias are called Wattles as they were believed to have been used by the early settlers to make the wattle and daub houses. The most common Golden Wattle is Acacia pycnantha, which is found in the South Eastern parts of Australia, as well as the hotter and drier climates.

Inland, the most common Golden wattle is the Mulga Wattle (Acacias aneura), which has a harder wood than many of the other species. It was also used to make tools and weaponry by the Aboriginal people. The strong scent of Golden Wattles, creates an illusion of an allergic reaction in some people sensitive to perfumes. Facts About Australia Australia was originally a geographical part of the giant continent Gondwana, which broke apart over one hundred million years ago. The name Australia comes from Terra Australis- the southern land. Australia, is a country, an island and a continent and is nicknamed as the Land Down Under The capital is Canberra. The 6th largest nation in the world, Australia is the world's smallest continent and the driest inhabited continent on earth. Australia's national flag features a blue background with a Union Jack ( UK flag) in the upper left hand quarter; a large seven pointed star is under the Union Jack, accompanied by five small starts on the right hand side. Australia is located between the Indian and South Pacific Oceans. Australia boasts of a coastline of 36,735 kilometers, with land mass nearly 7.7 million square kilometers. Australian currency is the Dollar.

The predominant language in Australia is English, with over 80 other languages spoken. As at December 2003, Australia is estimated to have a population of over 20 million. The Koala, one of Australia's most well known animals, is not a bear but a marsupial. Acacia Gardens is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Australia is one of the world's most urbanised countries, with about 70 per cent of the population living in the 10 largest cities. Subscribe Get 10% off on pickupflowers.com explore Acacia, Acacia tree, Australian Wattle, Australian Wildflower, Australian Floral Emblem - Aussie-Info.com WATTLE Wattles belong to the genus Acacia, in the Mimosa family. There are over 600 different species distributed throughout Australia with shapes varying from low, spreading shrubs to large, upright trees. It is often called 'Mulga'. Whilst most are early spring and summer-flowering, there are wattles that bloom all year round.

Wattles are the most widespread of all Australian plants, some inhabiting the most remote and inhospitable areas, growing in parched sand in the desert under the scorching sun, spiked, hard and leafless. In the rainforest gullies they have soft feathery foliage with pale golden heads. One species of wattle, Acacia pycnantha, is the floral emblem of Australia and is featured on the coat-of-arms. Wattle seeds are carried in pods which twist and snap open when crisp and dry, scattering shiny, black seeds; the pods then remain on the plant. The pods are decorative, coiled and looped and twisted. The seeds have a very hard outer covering. Once released, the seeds retain viability for many years. Like many other Australian plants, the wattle has defences against drought or fire, and needs heat to release seeds or allow them to germinate. The first leaves from the sprouting seed are always feathery and bipinnate, though later they may change dramatically. Some wattles retain their feathery foliage when adult. Others replace it with leaf-like phyllodes.

These are flattened stalks which perform the function of leaves; they are tougher than true leaves and better able to withstand the arid conditions of many parts of Australia. Foliage ranges from dark to reddish green to greyish green and silvery grey. The flowers range in colour from cream, pale yellow to deep orange, The flowerhead is made of many small flowers with numerous stamens which create the fluffy appearance. They are massed together in pom-pom heads on short or long stalks or in spikes. Growing Wattle Despite the popularity of native plants in Australian gardens, the growing of wattle has never been widespread. Whilst they are fast growing they do have a short lifespan. They are useful hedge or screen plants. Wattle is grown from seed. Acacia seed has a very tough coat which must be treated before sowing. For the seed to germinate water must be able to enter the seed. Put the seeds into a dish, pour boiling water over them, leave them overnight, and sow the next day. The boiling water simulates the heat of a bushfire, which prompts wattle germination in the bush. Sow seeds into a 50/50 mix of sand and peat moss.

After watering the pot, cover with plastic to create a miniature glasshouse. After the seeds have sprouted remove the plastic and resume watering the seedlings regularly but lightly. Acacias develop long tap roots very quickly and should be transplanted from the seed bed very early to avoid damage to the roots. In most places autumn is the best time to sow acacias to avoid transplanting in humid weather to prevent fungal attack. Caring for Wattle Fertilizers must be used carefully. Some acacias are very sensitive to high levels of phosphorous in the soil. Acacias respond well to light pruning immediately after flowering to maintain a reasonable shape and to extend life. Wattles can escape from gardens and invade natural areas. For this reason some of the species available commercially may not be the most suitable for home gardens. A careful selection of suitable species should be made. Generally, it is preferable that shrub-sized species be selected. Many wattles will respond to tip pruning after flowering and before new growth commences to maintain a reasonable shape and to extend the life of the plant. Wattles can be beneficial as garden plants. Because of their fast growth rate and tolerance of full sun, they can provide protection and shelter for other young plants.

They also aid the growth of other plants by contributing to the nitrogen content of the soil. The main pests are borers but galls can be a problem on the smaller branches and on the pods. History The word 'Wattle' is of Anglo-Saxon origin and refers to flexible lengths of branches woven between stakes for the construction of fences or walls, 'wattle and daub' construction, with an additional layer of mud or clay to weatherproof the house walls. The huts of the early settlers were made using this 'wattle and daub' technique. The Acacia branches were found to be the most suitable and these trees soon came to be called Wattles. Aborigines used the seeds of several species as a source of food. Some species are toxic. Back to Australian Flora page. Recommended... Winter wattles › Nature Features (ABC Science) In Depth › Nature Features › Environment and Nature Winter wattles Why do some wattles bloom in winter while so many other plants hunker down for the cold weather? By Abbie Thomas Black wattle This here's the wattle, the emblem of our land. You can stick it in a bottle, you can hold it in your hand. Amen!

— Monty Python Although the Australian bush does not experience the same seasonal extremes as Europe or America, it still shows some dramatic changes as winter approaches. Many plants and animals respond to the dwindling temperatures by slowing or ceasing activity, conserving their energy for spring. The landscape can look bleak and dull. But among the grey there is an occasional burst of brilliant yellow that lights up the whole canopy. Thanks to the humble wattle tree, the winter landscape of the bush and of many Australian gardens glows with golden light, despite the cold weather. Up to a third of Australia's 960 species of wattle will flower in winter. This winter blooming means that somewhere in Australia, no matter what time of year, a wattle is flowering, because they also flower in spring, summer and autumn. As the cold weather descends, many of the insects which wattles and other plants rely on for pollination start to disappear. So why have so many wattles evolved to flower during the chilly winter months? ^ to top Seeing golden from your Holden If you drive around the bush this time of the year, you can find wattles in full bloom in many different parts of Australia, particularly in the south east.

Some of the best places to see wattle displays are in NSW and Victoria, particularly the Upper Hunter region of NSW, the Pilliga Scrub in northern NSW, and between East Gippsland in Victoria and the south coast of NSW. They look spectacular with their massed yellow blooms brightening up the greenish-grey of the winter landscape. Wattles growing nearest the coast are generally the earliest in the year to flower, followed by those further inland. Similarly, the tide of yellow sweeps from north to south, as the wattles in the northerly parts of Australia flower first, followed by the more southerly species. Fact file: Pilliga Scrub, northern NSW. Flinders Ranges, SA Other info: First plant collected - Wattle expert Mr Bruce Maslin says it's likely that the first plant ever collected from the Australian continent was a wattle (probably in 1696 by members of the Vlamingh expedition when they discovered the Swan River in Perth). Wattles were also collected about 18 months later by William Dampier from the northwest of WA. About 100 years later, Joseph Banks collected wattles during the Cook expedition in eastern Australia.

The Acacia genus, which includes all the wattles, is the biggest group of trees and shrubs in Australia, topping even the eucalypts in diversity. They were part of the original Gondwana vegetation, which is why, today, acacias are also found in Africa, South America and India. While plenty of acacias are found around the coast and tablelands, their real specialty is the arid areas. Acacias have a characteristic which is distinctive to Australia plants - an adaptation called scleromorphy, which describes the leathery, hard spiny or reduced leaves found on most plants in this group. The evolution of scleromorphy is believed to be an adaptation to poor soils and low or unpredictable rainfall. As Australia became drier in the distant past, the tough wattle flourished and became the most widespread of all Australian plants. Wattles now grow in just about every habitat, except the subalpine areas. The vast interior of Australia is dominated by a wattle - the mulga, Acacia aneura and its closely related species and varieties - which grows as a low shrub and flowers in immediate response to the rare rainfalls which may pass by.

But unlike their desert cousin, many of the more coastal acacias do much of their flowering during the winter. Which wattles live in your state New South Wales Mudgee or Pilliga wattle, A. spectabilis West Wyalong wattle, A. cardiophylla Victoria Sydney Golden wattle, A. longifolia Queensland ^ to top Wattles we know One of the best known winter-flowerers is the Cootamundra wattle, A. baileyana, which starts blossoming from around July. Although the distinct, fern-like silver grey foliage has made it a popular garden and street plant, it has become a pest in some areas. The wattle originally came from a tiny area around Cootamundra and Temora in NSW but is now naturalised in many parts of Australia. The seeds survive for decades in the soil and will germinate in their thousands after a fire. Many bushland areas around Sydney, the ACT and Victoria are being invaded by this acacia. Given the right conditions, it gets huge, shading out sunlight and stifling seedlings from growing.

Overseas, the Cootamundra wattle is a popular street tree and can grow to an immense size in the absence of its native insect predators. Another well known wattle which can be found blooming from late winter through to spring is Australia's floral emblem, the golden wattle A. pycnantha. This substantial bush grows up to 10 metres and produces masses of flowers. In many ways, a sprig of wattle has come to symbolise Australia, going back to the days when wattle was collected and sold to raise money for the war effort. These origins are still celebrated on National Wattle Day, the first day of spring, September 1. ^ to top Pollinate me Why winter flowering wattles bloom when so much else is dormant is something of a mystery. Acacia expert Terry Tame believes it may be partly due to the fact that wattles are none too choosy when it comes to who pollinates them. Wattles are opportunistic pollinators - making the most of pretty much any beetle, wasp or bee which lands on them to do the job of spreading their genes around. Unlike many other plants, most wattles do not rely on a specific type of insect or bird for pollination.

Instead, insects land on the blossom and become covered with pollen, carrying it from one plant to the next. Birds which forage for these insects also become incidental pollen carriers in the process. Watching bees going bezerk as they frantically jostle to get among a blossom-laden wattle branch, you'd think these trees produce the most seductive nectar in the world. But although wattles do often have an amazingly strong fragrance, the flowers don't usually carry nectar. The pollinators are attracted instead by the pollen itself, a rich source of protein. Mites and thrips feed on the flowers, and beetles and wasps prey on these insects. All of these creatures become inadvertent pollinators. Interestingly, although no nectar is produced, wattles do make a sweet sticky substance in structures called nectaries or phyllode glands on their leaves. Tiny amounts of this sweet substance are produced around the time of flowering, giving wattles their characteristic 'sticky' feel to the touch. The nectaries are very popular with honeyeaters, which may accidentally collect pollen on their bodies as they move in to take the nectar or the insects associated with it.

There's another advantage to flowering early: sneaking in an early batch of seeds. Seeds take about two months to mature. The seeds of winter flowering plants are mature by late spring. This way, the young germinating plants have less competition from other seedlings, and also benefit from any moisture remaining in the ground from the cooler weather. ^ to top Do wattles cause hayfever? Wattles are often blamed for triggering hayfever, but it seems they may have been unfairly maligned. A Canberra study found that pollen density ranges from three grains per cubic metre of air in July up to 17 in October. By contrast, pollen from grass can reach densities of up to 200 grains per cubic metre. Exotic trees such as elm, ash and oak also produce much larger amounts of pollen than wattle. Few people tested directly with pollen grains have a significant reaction. Pollen grains are much larger than grass grains and tend to fall straight to the ground below the tree, rather than blow around in the wind and get up people's noses. The strong scent of some wattles, however, can create an illusion of an allergic reaction in some people sensitive to perfumes.

^ to top Darwinian dynamos The ability of wattles to grab different ecological niches has enabled them to spread out and occupying many different habitats. With their tough, water-saving leaves, wattles have adapted well to the mainly dry Australian conditions. But they also have something else: a supercharged evolutionary system which enables them to evolve quite rapidly into new species. Whereas many plants are stable over time, wattles are diversifying before our eyes. Take the sunshine wattle, A. terminalis, for example. This wiry shrub, one of the rare wattles which flowers in late summer, grows across the NSW coast and ranges, and also in Victoria and Tasmania. This species has been causing some taxonomists to tear out their hair in frustration. Once thought to be a single species, A. terminalis has now been found in so many slightly different forms that taxonomists suspect this group is in the process of speciation. Given time, and if a barrier to interbreeding were ever established - such as a large area of cleared land - some members of the A terminalis group may become a new species.

Part of the reason why wattles are such rampant evolvers has to do with the huge amount of seed they produce, creating a huge pool of potential genetic diversity for future generations. Perhaps in another few million years, there will be even more wattle species than the nearly 1000 that now live across Australia. But whatever the future, the ability of wattles to flower in winter means gardeners and travellers will always be able to enjoy the golden touches they bring to the chilly winter landscape, while so many other species are deep in winter repose. ^ to top Acacia no more? The future of Australia's wattles is under threat. Not from bushfires, poor land management or exotic pests, but from the arcane world of taxonomy. New research on the DNA of the Acacia genus in recent years has showed this enormous group of plants is far more diverse than previously thought. Some taxonomists have suggested that Acacia should be split into a number of different groups, resulting in most Australian wattles losing the name Acacia, which would be retained by some plants from other countries, including Africa. An alternative name for the genus to replace Acacia is Racosperma, which has some botanists throwing their hands up in horror.

Catclaw, Wattle (Acacia) Genus Level Details & Allergy Info Home « Acacia Catclaw, Wattle Genus Details The acacia genus contains primarily tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs, native primarily to Australia and Africa. Species native to North America grow in the hot, arid SW region of the U.S. Leaves are bipinnately compound with small compact, light yellow flowers and numerous prominent stamens (male pollen-bearing structure), 10 or more. Since acacias are in the legume or pea family, the fruits are dry pods. The short-lived trees grow rapidly up to 50 feet in height. Powdered acacia gum or gum arabic is used to thicken foods and pharmaceuticals. Inhalation of the powder can cause allergic symptoms. Pearl wattle (Acacia podalyrifolia) Bullhorn acacia (Acacia_sphaerocephala) Catclaw, Wattle Allergy Info Acacia plants have been reported to cause pollinosis, even though they produce sparce pollen and are insect-pollinated. In Israel, Acacia pollen is considered strongly allergenic. In the U.S., they have less notoriety.

Catclaw, Wattle Pollen Description Most species of Acacia have 16 cells in the polyad but a few species have 48 (A. farinosiana and A.carenia). The intine of the grains is thin. Pollen grains of Acacia form polyads and reach 38-52 micrometers in diameter. Species in This Genus

Question: Common in Australia the wattle is a tree of what genus?
Answer: ACACIA